Laryngeal cancer
Anything that can increase your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor.
Different cancers have different risk factors. Having one or more of these risk factors doesn't mean you will definitely get that cancer.
When you smoke, it passes through the larynx on its way to your lungs. This smoke contains harmful chemicals. Smoking tobacco (cigarettes, pipes, cigars) increases your risk of developing laryngeal cancer. It is one of the main risk factors for laryngeal cancer.
Read about services to help you stop smoking
Drinking alcohol increases your risk of laryngeal cancer. Smoking and drinking together further increases your risk of cancer.
UK guidelines recommend no more than 14 units of alcohol a week for both men and women. But the less you drink the better.
Read more about how to cut down on alcohol
Laryngeal cancer is more common in older people than in younger people. There are very few cases in people under 40 years of age.
Laryngeal cancer is more common in men than in women. It is diagnosed in more than 4 times as many men as women.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists all cancer causing substances (carcinogens) in humans. They list the following substances as having evidence for increasing the risk of laryngeal cancer:
acid mists that are produced during certain manufacturing processes
asbestos – all types
People who have a first degree relative diagnosed with a head and neck cancer may have an increased risk of laryngeal cancer. A first degree relative is a parent, brother, sister or child.
Your body’s immune system fights infection. Some illnesses and medications can weaken your immune system. Research shows there may be an increased risk of laryngeal cancer if you:
have HIV or AIDS
are taking medication to suppress your immune system after an organ transplant
Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) is an autoimmune disease. This means the body's natural defence system (immune system) attacks healthy body tissue. Having lupus might increase your risk of developing laryngeal cancer.
If you have had certain cancers in the past, you have an increased risk of getting laryngeal cancer. This might be due to shared risk factors such as HPV, smoking and alcohol. These previous cancers include:
head and neck cancers which are not in the larynx
lung cancer
oesophageal cancer
bladder cancer
cervical cancer
Laryngeal cancer risk is more than twice higher in people with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). GORD is a common condition where stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus from the stomach. This is called acid reflux.
Laryngeal cancer develops in around 15 out of 100 people (around 15%) with laryngeal dysplasia. It is a condition. There are 2 types of laryngeal dysplasia. These are:
low grade laryngeal dysplasia and
high grade laryngeal dysplasia
People with high grade dysplasia have a higher risk of developing laryngeal cancer.
There is a possible increased risk of laryngeal cancer in people with Helicobacter pylori infection. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that can infect the stomach.
There is some evidence suggesting the following foods may increase the risk of laryngeal cancer.
These include:
processed meats
food high in fat
More research is needed to understand how they affect the risk of developing laryngeal cancer.
Read more about diet and cancer
HPV stands for human papilloma virus. It is a common infection and for most people it doesn't cause any problems and goes away on its own.
Some research has suggested that HPV16 and 18 are linked to laryngeal cancer but more research is needed. It is a common cause of other types of head and neck cancers. But the link to laryngeal cancer is rare.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) lists the evidence for HPV as a risk factor for laryngeal cancer as limited.
Some substances may increase your risk of laryngeal cancer. You may have an increased risk if you have been exposed to:
substances used in the rubber production industry
second hand tobacco smoke – second hand smoke means the smoke that someone exhales when they smoke, as well as the smoke created by the lit end of a cigarette
sulphur mustard – a type of gas used in warfare
Stories about possible cancer causes are often in the media and it can be hard to know what’s true and what’s not. You may have heard of something that isn’t included here. This is because we only include a risk factor in this information if it is supported by good quality evidence.
Find out about common cancer myths and questions on the causes of cancer
There are ways you can reduce your risk of cancer.
Find out more about reducing your risk
You can find more detailed information about laryngeal cancer risks and causes in the Cancer Research UK Statistics section.
Read more detailed statistics on risk factors for laryngeal cancer
Last reviewed: 30 Aug 2024
Next review due: 30 Aug 2027
Laryngeal cancer is cancer that starts in the voice box (larynx). It is a type of head and neck cancer.
The type of laryngeal cancer means the type of cell the cancer started in. The most common type is squamous cell carcinoma.
Symptoms can include a hoarse voice, difficulty swallowing, weight loss and shortness of breath.
You usually start by seeing your GP. They will examine you and might refer you for tests or to a specialist.
You might have surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of treatments to treat laryngeal cancer.
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